The Ultimate Guide To Hiring an Editor for Your Book

Hiring a book editor for your manuscript can be challenging.

There isn’t one author on the planet, past or present, who spends their time sitting alone in their study and crafts their book or novel to perfection on their own.

No book is written and is ready to hit the shelves right away.

Sure, authors do the legwork themselves and use their creativity to produce something that will keep millions engaged, but it’s a collaborative process with professional editors playing a huge role.

If you’ve nearly finished writing your first book and need an editor to cast their critical eye over it, or you need more reliable editors than you’ve worked with in the past, here’s how to hire an editor for your book to ensure the best chance of success.

What Does a Book Editor Do?

There’s a bit of an unfair misconception surrounding editors in that they’re glorified proofreaders and only spot the minor typos and grammar errors the human eye naturally misses.

In reality, they offer so much more.

They’re effectively the gatekeepers in the book-writing process.

They maintain quality control and utilize their skills, knowledge, revision skills and talent to transform books from the original draft to a best-seller sold and enjoyed by reading enthusiasts worldwide.

As the author of your book, your focus is on the story, the angle, keeping it compelling and making sure the narrative is one where readers struggle to put the book down.

But you need an editor to help you get all of that and more across.

They’re a fresh pair of eyes, a crucial voice who won’t be afraid to tell you what you’re missing, what to remove, what you should rework and how to tie everything together.

Their job isn’t to criticize and then leave you to it.

Hiring an editor means you’ll have an expert who will help you bring out the best of your story.

Whether it’s a copy editor who will focus on the mechanics of your story or a developmental editor who is on hand to offer advice on your structure, you’ll need the skills an editor possesses to help your book succeed.

Or in simpler terms, they keep your reputation as an author intact (sort of).

Here’s a little more about each one, so you know what to expect from an editor.

Developmental Editor

A developmental editor is one who will do a comprehensive, in-depth review of your book.

It ranges from the structure you’ve chosen right through to the pacing, plot, characterization and conflict.

This is the type of editor you’d hire in the early stages of your book, especially when you’re unsure of how to finish.

This service is also known as substantive or content editing, where the professional editor will heavily cut, move and re-shape your words.

Although it doesn’t usually include proofreading, it’s definitely the most detailed editing service around as it impacts the story arc itself. If you need help with this, get on it right away.

Copy Editor

Copy editing is what most people are familiar with, but they’re brought in when you have the basics finalized, such as the storyline, character development and the plot.

Once you’ve nailed them, then you can hire a copy editor.

Their role is to make your text perfect.

They’ll make sure the style is consistent, the words sound engaging and improve your prose.

It’s also known as line editing, where the copy editor checks your book, line by line, to focus on the choice of words, how you’ve structured your sentences, verb tense, style consistency and every other readability factor imaginable.

Proofreading Editor

A proofreader is a type of editor you’d bring in at the final stages.

Their responsibility is to do a deep, thorough check over every tiny detail. Punctuation, grammar, spelling — they obsess over these to make sure it’s as accurate as possible.

However, when you work with a proofreader, it doesn’t tend to involve services such as the structure of bigger editorial problems.

Their job is to polish your work, not help direct your story into different, better directions.

Why is Hiring A Book Editor Important?

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It’s easy to think an editor is a nice to have.

After all, you’re an author.

You’re an excellent writer.

This is your profession — so do you really need to bring in an extra pair of hands to critique your book?

Yep…

Even if you’re the best writer in the world, you could do with an editor working their magic.

Book Editors Notice the Small Oversights

Writing a book is no easy feat, you know that.

From concept to execution, you’ve probably lost count of how many times you’ve read through each page.

But the more your eyes are on your book, the more likely it is you’ve skimmed over the small comma you missed, the tiny plot hole you didn’t tie together or the same word you repeated 19 times in the space of six paragraphs.

That’s no fault of your own and it’s something each writer or author suffers from.

The closer you are to your own writing, the less you’ll see these mistakes or oversights you’d usually notice.

That’s just the nature of writing your own book.

You’re too busy making the essential changes and connecting the dots in your head, so ignoring the blind spots is bound to happen.

Hiring an experienced editor will fix this, ensuring they address every missed point.

Editors Are Objective

You don’t want a yes-man or woman to help you get your book over the line.

That’s not how you’ll do your best work and it isn’t the way books will fly off the shelf.

Editors are objective and have powerful methods to help you produce fantastic work.

That’s because they aren’t biased.

They don’t have any emotional connection to you or your book.

They’re a stranger who can pick out areas that require more detail or need some grammatical tweaks.

They can pinpoint repetition.

They can trim down the fat to make areas more succinct.

They can dive deeper and add more substance to certain chapters that need it.

They have the experience in this area and are constructive enough to improve your ability to communicate, your syntax, style and structure.

Can a friend or family member do it to the same level?

Most likely not.

Hiring a Book Editor Will Save You Time

You’ll know better than anyone how long the book-writing process is.

From the ideas in your hand to multiple drafts and then the continual revisions until you’re happy with it.

The more time you spend going over your book and tiny details, that’s more time not going towards getting the book ready for publishing.

As crucial as revisions are, just like reading over your book, it can waste a lot of your valuable time.

The more you start editing your work, the more you’ll get fixated on the smallest of details, be it the theme, angle or structure.

An editor is a lifesaver here. They offer a fresh perspective and sort out the problems you initially ignored or overlooked, including the ones you did notice but struggled to sort.

That means you’ll get a lot of time back to focus on other areas.

Hiring a Book Editor Will Help You Perfect Your Writing

Hiring an editor doesn’t mean you’re bringing in someone better or that you aren’t the best at what you do.

Even the most talented and creative authors know that everything they write can be improved, which is what an editor will help with.

It could be the way you structure your copy or the types of words you use; experienced editors that have been around the block know exactly what to look for while helping improve your writing.

Editors Will Help You Select the Right Mood and Tone

Where most writers go wrong is that they think editors won’t get as hands-on as they do.

A big part of your book is the mood and tone, two things you need to keep consistent and effective in each scene.

If you aren’t 100% happy with the mood or the tone, don’t rush it through to publishing. Professional editors can help you decide if the mood works with the relevant scene or what needs changing.

They’ll also help you decide on the placement of scenes or any replacements to help the readers along.

This is a huge benefit, as their tweaks can help you get your readers emotionally invested in your story (and sequels).

Book Editors Will Move Your Writing Onto The Next Stage

Writing your book is just one part of the process, albeit the most important.

Going at it alone might seem exciting, but with so many moving parts, it can take a while to see your finished book on a shelf or available to buy online.

There’s a lot to do, but working with the right editor means you might unknowingly unlock a whole host of connections ranging from PR firms to publishers.

Getting access to these experts means you not only nail down the book writing aspect but also marketing it and bringing your book to life.

That’s why you need to find an experienced book editor, as they’ll have a catalogue of clients they’ve worked with so they’ll understand the process involved in publishing your book.

Your copy will benefit and you’ll gain more expertise in other areas.

Find one that’s dedicated to working on your project, enabling you to develop your writing and use their experience to ensure more readers pick up your book.

Book Editors Will Make Sure Your Published Book Is Perfect

The words you write and the story you tell are linked with your repetition.

The better your book, the more your reputation as a talented author stays intact.

While the storytelling and narrative might be excellent, the grammatical errors, the styling problems and the communication issues might keep your work back from getting the praise it rightfully deserves.

The last thing you want is for your book to get published, only to have people notice these issues and then you have to go back and fix them.

In some cases, that’s a real challenge, especially since it’ll be in the publisher’s control and who knows when they’ll decide to do another run of printing your book, meaning you could be waiting a while to sort the mistakes out.

If audiences spot these mistakes, then every book you write could suffer the same fate — poor sales.

Your writing needs to be top-notch, and a book editor can stop the worst from happening.

They’ll make sure your book is set up to succeed, as they’ll ensure you aren’t wasting your time and edit your book so it’s ready — without any errors — to be handed to a publisher.

How To Hire a Good Editor for your Book

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The process can feel a little intimidating, especially if you haven’t worked with an editor before, so it’s normal to feel taken back by a stranger getting their hands on your book and making changes.

However, the process is easier than you think.

Now that you know why editors are important, the different editor types and why you need one, here’s what to look for in a good editor before you start your search.

Familiarity of Your Genre

Just because one particular editor might be highly rated, it doesn’t always mean they’re the right fit for you.

The first thing you need to look out for before hiring an editor is someone familiar with your genre.

It’s no use hiring an editor with knowledge and expertise in children’s books, whereas your next book is a mystery, mind-bending novel that Christopher Nolan would love to confuse even more for a movie.

If the experience and familiarity don’t match, don’t settle and continue looking for a better fit.

Yes, these editors will still be able to offer services like proofreading to spot grammar errors and such and they also have experience in looking over the manuscript.

However, you want someone who has completed a lot of editing in your genre as they can identify particular issues in your book and fix them based on previous projects they’re worked on.

Editors Must Have the Experience You Want

Obvious, but essential. This isn’t to say someone new to the editing world is terrible.

You need to first decide what it is you want. If it’s speed and efficiency without compromising on quality, an editor with experience will generally be quicker than someone who is just starting out.

While it might be a higher up-front cost, they’ll save you time and money as the process goes on.

If you’re willing to work with someone with less experience but you’re confident in their abilities, that’s fine.

Do thorough research before sending over your book, but always ask about their experience before you do this.

Editors Must Be Transparent About Their Costs

The cost aspect isn’t something that makes a good or bad editor, but it’s more along the lines of how transparent the editor is about their fees.

It’s simple — any good, honest editor should be upfront about what you’ll have to pay for their services, the type of service they’ll offer and how long they’ll be involved in the project.

If they aren’t transparent about their costs, that’s a red flag right away.

You don’t want to enter into an agreement before realizing there are plenty of hidden costs and will continue to ask for more money as it’s taking them longer to finish working on your book.

Iron out the terms and conditions upfront to avoid any nasty surprises further down the process.

Book Editors Might  Offer Extra Services

It’s also a good idea to check if the editor offers extra services that might be helpful, such as blurbs, descriptions and promotional copy.

If you want to take control of those, that’s fine.

However, an editor is also going to spend a lot of time learning about you, your writing style and what your book contains.

They’ll live it just like you did, so that sense of familiarity can allow them to be objective and can create certain copy types in several areas.

The Communication Style Is a Perfect Fit

While the editor might be a stranger, to begin with, the aim is to hopefully build a strong relationship with them so that in the future, you can continue working together to produce the most compelling books possible.

What also makes a good editor is their communication style and if it’s the right fit for you.

There’s a wrong way to communicate, but the editor needs to be adaptable as this is your book.

Before hiring an editor, work out how often the two of you will communicate and if it’s either too much or too little.

Don’t be afraid to push back if you need to keep in touch more often.

Also, make sure the communication style suits you. Do you want someone who is blunt but to the point?

Or do you want someone who isn’t as direct and perhaps comes across much chattier?

Work out what works best for you so you can narrow down your search.

Then think about when you’re both available. You don’t want to only communicate when you have a 30-minute window because you’re on opposite ends of the planet unless that works for you.

Highlight your working hours and when you’re available, then find out the same information from the editor. The best editors will be willing to work around you where possible.

Finally, what are the platforms you’ll use to communicate?

From Slack and Google Chat to Zoom and Microsoft Teams, there are so many platforms available for you to choose from.

Decide with the editor what platform you’ll use to communicate.

If there’s any reluctance and they aren’t willing to use one platform or another, it’s probably an early sign of what the rest of the process will look like.

They Can Work to Your Timelines

Another aspect of what makes a good editor is whether they can work to your timelines or not.

This is your book. It’s your project that you want to see through and come to life sooner rather than later.

That means you should have a better idea of the deadline you want to hit and the best editors are those that can work to your deadlines.

Or, they’re transparent about the deadlines from the get-go.

You’d rather have an editor tell you they’re so busy they can’t commit to your deadlines before they sign, rather than agreeing on deadlines and then backtracking later on.

An editor should try their best to accommodate you.

Sure, there needs to be flexibility from both sides, especially if you have a deadline, but the editor you want to work with is already juggling a few projects.

However, never fall into the trap of letting an editor dictate your deadlines for you. Hold firm, tell them the deadlines and decide who you trust the most to deliver.

Have You Considered Beta Readers?

Editors can be quite an expensive cost, but for the right reasons and you definitely need them.

They have a unique skill set you need to help your book launch successfully.

In some cases, editors might offer great advice beforehand, such as considering a beta reader before utilizing their services, especially if you don’t have the money right away. Beta readers allow you to get a good head start before bringing in the professionals, who you’ll then only need for a shorter amount of time.

Anyone can be a beta reader.

Your parents, cousin, best friend’s aunt or, more suitable, someone in an online writing group who knows how to critique.

What makes them different from professional editors is that they aren’t as straight to the point.

They leave feedback as to how a reader picking up your book to read it would.

If we’re being technical, then yes, they’re acting as editors for your book.

They’ll still offer suggestions on the copy. They’ll raise issues; they’ll provide feedback — all of which you can amend before finally hiring an editor to work on the second draft of your book.

However, an editor is still the more important option.

While friends and family will spot some things, they won’t notice every little nuance.

Plus, the last thing you want is somebody telling you what you want to hear because they’re emotionally attached to you.

While beta readers are a good first step, good editors are specialists who can identify weak spots and know exactly how to fix them.

People that don’t live and breathe this can fix underdeveloped storylines, characters, structure and inconsistencies.

If you don’t want to stick to friends and family, platforms like Scribophile, Inkitt, Wattpad and writing groups on multiple social media platforms are a great place to start.

Now, you should have a better idea of what makes a good editor and what you should look for.

But before you dive in, you need to work out the best time to hire a book editor in the first place.

When Is the Right Time to Hire a Book Editor?

Unfortunately, there’s no set milestone on when it’s time to hire a book editor.

If this is your first book, this is going to mean the world to you and nobody can blame you for rushing the process and handing your first draft over to an editor.

However, take a step back first and think about things first before rushing the process.

Writers tend to send their drafts over to editors prematurely because they feel like they aren’t ‘serious’ writers and an editor can fix the mistakes, ready for the book to get published.

Doing this puts the burden of your book being a success or failure on your editor rather than you.

Or, you’ve read through your book 50 times and you just want to hand it off to someone else because you’re tired of reading it over and over, ready to end the process once and for all.

If you fall in either of these situations, here are a bunch of questions you should seriously ask yourself before you even begin looking for editors.

• Are you sending your book to a professional editor in the hope they can turn it into a masterpiece for you?
• Are you rushing because you want to move on to the next book?
• Have you done everything in your control to make your draft the best it can possibly be?
• Are you searching for an editor because you’re bored of looking over your copy over and over again?
• Do you understand the different types of editors available and what services you need?
• Do you have the budget for an editor who can help see your book through the end?
• Have you applied the feedback from beta readers before hiring a book editor?

Once you’ve worked through every single question and can confidently say you’re at a stage where you need an editor, it’s time to start the hiring process.

How to Hire an Editor for Your Book

When you’ve reached the stage of needing an editor to help polish your book, here’s how you can go about finding the right one for you (along with keeping everything mentioned so far in mind).

Where Can You Find Editors for Your Book?

Other than deciding on which editor to work with, this is the most challenging part of hiring an editor: knowing where to find them in the first place.

Thankfully, there are plenty of online platforms where your perfect editor is waiting to transform your manuscript into a best seller.

If you’re struggling to start the search, here’s where you can find them.

• Facebook: Don’t laugh; Facebook is actually a great platform where you’ll find plenty of online writing groups. Join some and see if you can get either beta readers or freelance editors to help you out.
• Fiverr and Upwork: Websites like these are full of freelance editors where you can trawl through their reviews and previous work. They also feature information about the costs, projects they’ve worked on and the types of services they offer. In general, be careful with platforms like these. There will be great opportunities there, but those opportunities also come with their fair share of risks.
• Ebook Launch: Regardless of the type of book you’re writing, Ebook Launch offers everything from editing to designing. There’s a minimum cost of $200 per book, so keep that in mind.
• Editorial Freelancers Association: This is one of the biggest collectives of freelance professional writers, editors, proofreaders and more. It’s free to search the directory and filter by the service and skills you need to find your ideal editor.
• BookBaby: BookBaby is perfect if you want to self-publish. They can help with editing and getting your book to stores. What’s different is the cost depends on what you’re looking for, not necessarily cookie-cutter pricing.
• Scribendi: Scribendi has 300 experienced editors on its books. They’ve been around for a while where you’re in control of the editing speed and how extensive the amends need to be.
• Cambridge Proofreading and Editing: This Chicago-based international agency has over 300 editors covering a range of specialisms. With both American and British editors covering both styles, the prices depend on the delivery speed and the level of editing you need.

And that’s just at a top-level.

There are plenty of other platforms out there where you can find the editor you need.

Do thorough research and find a handful before narrowing the list down further.

What Type of Editing Do You Need?

You might be on the search for a proofreader, but always be open to the possibility of your book needing a more extensive edit.

First, decide what it is you need from your editor but explain to them you’re happy to hear their thoughts with evidence to back up their ideas.

If you feel uneasy or misunderstood, it probably isn’t a good fit, but don’t be afraid to share your feelings with the editor so they can tweak accordingly.

Do They Offer Other Services?

You should also reach out to find out what other services the editor provides.

Some editing agencies might be able to help with publishing, while other editors might have marketing contacts.

What Expertise Do They Have?

Next, look at their expertise.

Ask them about the books they’ve edited so you can get a feel of the knowledge and skills they have.

You can dig deeper by asking about education if they work with companies or by themselves and the sectors they specialize in.

It’s also essential to analyze their reputation, portfolio and reviews, plus any training or certifications they’ve completed.

These types of questions will help you decide which editor should work on your book.

How Much Do They Cost?

If the figure is too high for you, look for another editor.

If the price is too good to be true, there’s every chance that’s the level of service you’ll get.

Don’t just settle for an upfront cost, either.

Ask them the price for each service you need, how much they charge now compared to when they weren’t as experienced and, most importantly, whether the cost will fluctuate depending on how long your book is.

It’s also a good idea to let a few bids roll in so you can compare the prices.

Or, pay a few different editors for a few hours of their work so you can judge the work.

Yes, it’s another expense, but consider it research instead.

Get the final figure before you sign off on anything.

Also, be sure to mention if it’s a complex project.

Chances are the more complex it is, the more it can impact the costs.

Check The Editor’s Reviews

Ask other authors about editors they’ve worked with in the past.

If there’s one in particular you really like, ask authors who have worked with them if they’d recommend the editor’s services.

These reviews and references should flag up anything compelling enough to either make you want to have them editor your book or raise any red flags suggesting that you should avoid them.

Explain How Attached You Are to Your Writing

There’s nothing wrong with being an author who’s attached to your writing and quite sensitive to any major changes.

If you want the editor to know you only want edits that correct any mistakes and nothing subjective, then that’s fine.

Any information like this is super valuable for the editor as it’ll avoid you both clashing later on in the process and remove any misunderstanding or frustrations.

Although, if you’re happy for editors to work their magic, tell them.

They can take your work to a different level if you’re willing to loosen the grip.

It won’t hinder your creativity and it’s still your book.

Editors are just making changes. If anything, you should let your book receive multiple edits before sending it for publishing.

Offer Paid Trials

This is definitely not about an editor doing free work for you!

It’s a good tactic to use if you’re unsure about a particular editor or you have two or three you’re struggling to decide between.

As long as you have the budget, pay editors to complete a sample for you to assess before deciding on one.

Analyze the comments and suggestions carefully and the one you resonate with the most; that’s the one you should stick with throughout your book project.

Don’t Be Afraid of Having Your Book Assigned

The book is your project, so it’s only natural you want to maintain control of every step.

Who becomes a beta reader, who’s the editor, who markets it and who publishes it.

However, if you’re having a tough time picking one editor, agencies and publishing houses are stocked with professional editors who have years of experience.

You’d be guaranteed an editor who will be assigned to your book.

You can still ask all of the relevant questions to put your mind at ease, but it does take a lot of the hassle away if you don’t need it.

The Top Editors You Need to Consider Hiring for Your Book

If you have complete trust in a newbie, then go ahead and use their editing services.

While experience does help if you want someone tried and tested, those new to the game can be just as good if not better than other options.

If you’ve decided you only want the best, here are some of the top editors you might want to consider:

• Maya Rock
• Leslie Watts
• Maggie Lyons
• Jennifer Blanchard
• Katharine D’Souza
• Philip Athans
• Sarah Fox
• Victoria Mixon
• S. Lakin
• Roz Morris
• Debra L Hartmann
• Katie McCoach
• Jenny Hutton
• Anne Victory
• Michael Mohr
• Kristin Noland
• Sarah Kolb-Williams

Researching the top editors above is a great starting point where you can analyze what type of services they offer, what genre they specialize in and the prices they charge.

Regardless of the editor you choose, make sure to ask a variation of the questions below to each editor you’re interested in to help you narrow down your choices:

• How long have you been editing?
• Do you have a portfolio I can look at?
• What are the last three books you worked on?
• Can you share the names of the authors you worked with?
• Are you willing to take part in a paid trial so I can see a sample of your work?
• What editing services do you offer?
• What’s the cost of each editing service?
• Are there any extra costs I should be aware of?
• How long does the process take end to end?
• With this service, how many rounds of edits would I get?
• Do you offer any other non-editing services?

As you can tell, there’s a lot involved, but that’s exactly what you’d want when there’s such a crucial decision to make.

Don’t be afraid to push back where necessary because it’s important for you to maintain control.

After all, this book is yours so you need to be as hands-on as you need while trusting the editor to do their part to do your book justice.

Once you have your editor, then it’s time to provide all the last-minute details and go on your way to a stress-free project.

Make sure you have the tools ready, the deadline in mind and outline your expectations.

To do your bit, keep the editor motivated and make their life easy, too.

Don’t keep moving the goalposts and get them more frustrated.

This could be the start of an incredible writer/editor partnership — do your part to make it a long-term one where the editor enjoys working with you.

Further Reading:

How To Write Dialogue: The Ultimate Guide

The Ethics of Book Buying 

How To Hire A Writing Coach

10 Questions To Ask Before Enrolling in KDP Select